中国家庭养育成本分担模式对再生育的影响

The Effect of Family Parenting Cost-sharing Model on the Birth of Second Child in China

在低生育率时代,制定降低养育成本的公共政策要充分考虑家庭生育特征的重大变化。目前,生育一孩仍然是我国大多数家庭的责任和义务,一孩的养育经历深刻影响着家庭再生育决策。本文基于多重家庭均衡理论分析传统家庭与现代家庭养育成本分担模式的差异,使用2019年全国人口与家庭动态监测调查数据,从微观视角解析当前我国家庭养育成本分担模式对一孩母亲再生育计划的影响。研究结果表明:现代女性肩负的养育成本责任增多,母亲在承担着照料孩子主要角色的同时分担着传统家庭中由父亲独自承担的养育经济成本,此外还要担负养育导致的机会成本损失。新时代家庭养育分担模式已经不再主要表现为“男主外,女主内”。更多女性期望在家庭与职业间寻找新的平衡。女性在家庭中提供经济支持对再生育并不完全起到消极影响,有较高收入能力和良好工作保障的一孩母亲是再生育的潜在群体,对生育构成阻碍的是伴随女性经济成本承担出现的机会成本压力。丈夫在养育照料上的平等分担对女性再生育没有起到十分显著的影响,预示着性别平等理念还未彻底渗透于养育家庭内部。祖辈照料是转移女性照料负担,促进生育行为的积极力量,但因老人身体不佳导致的隔代支持缺乏正逐渐成为再生育家庭的困扰。

In the present era of low fertility rates,when formulating public policies to reduce parenting costs,we must fully consider significant changes in family fertility characteristics.At present,giving birth to one child remains the responsibility and obligation of most families in China.The experience of parenting one child has a profound impact on a family’s decision to have another child.Based on the multiple family equilibrium theory,this paper analyses the differences between rearing cost-sharing models of traditional families and modern families.Adopting a micro perspective,this paper examines data from the 2019 Nation‐al Population and Family Dynamic Monitoring Survey and discusses the impact of rearing cost-sharing mod‐els of families on the fertility plans of mothers with one child.The results demonstrate that women in mod‐ern societies shoulder more responsibility for rearing costs,and mothers must not only serve as the primary caregivers of their children but also share the economic cost of raising a child,which was previously borne solely by fathers in traditional societies.Moreover,women must pay the opportunity cost associated with childrearing.In the context of the development of the new era,the traditional Chinese parenting sharing model(men go to work as the primary breadwinners of the family,while women stay at home and look after the children and the house)is no longer representative of a“balanced”family life.More women are expect‐ed to seek a balance between their families and careers.Women’s financial contribution to the family does not have only a negative effect on the decision to have more children.Mothers with one child who have a high income and job security demonstrate the likelihood of having more children.However,the opportunity cost associated with the cost of child rearing borne by women prevents them from having more children.Husbands’equal contribution to upbringing and care has not had a significant impact on women’s deci‐sions to have more children,and the concept of gender equality has not completely taken root in the hearts of childrearing families.Grandparent care is a positive factor for offsetting women’s care burdens and pro‐moting reproductive behaviours.However,the lack of intergenerational support caused by the poor health of the elderly is gradually becoming a dilemma for families who shoulder childrearing.